Morning Report

A brief update of movements in the financial sector.

Taxis are an essential service operating during lockdown, but there are challenges for drivers trying to keep themselves and their passengers safe.

Many of them aren't working at all because of a sharp fall in demand.

Susie Ferguson speaks to John Hart, executive director of the Taxi Federation.

New South Wales police have launched a criminal investigation into the operator of the Ruby Princess cruise ship, after it allowed thousands of passengers to disembark in Sydney - despite some people showing flu-like symptoms.

The cruise ship has since been linked to 600 cases and 10 deaths.

The ABC's Glen Moret speaks to Corin Dann.

An Auckland woman says she was shocked that her boss applied for the government's wage subsidy under her name after making her redundant.

The acupuncturist says she didn't get any notice before the redundancy and was given four weeks pay of $585 per week, which is the government's weekly wage subsidy amount, not her full salary.

She says her employer is making use of the government's kindness.

RNZ is not naming the employer as the two parties are in negotiation.

Chen Liu reports.

Consumer New Zealand says it's getting complaints from people being stung with massive cancellation fees for weddings that aren't able to go ahead.

There have also been complaints from people who've gone online to buy products that companies don't actually have in stock.

Jessica Wilson is head of research at Consumer New Zealand.

She speaks to Corin Dann.

As we enter day 12 of the lockdown 1039 people have been confirmed as having Covid 19, one person has died and 15 people are in hospital, two in a critical condition.

Worldwide the number of confirmed cases worldwide has surged to 1.2 million.

Around 70,000 people have died. Contact tracing is regarded as a major tool in slowing or stopping the spread of the coronavirus.

Other countries like the US, UK and Russia have tapped into mobile phone apps to trace infected people's movements.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told Morning Report the Government is looking at doing the same.

Susie Ferguson speaks to Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield.

Charities are feeling the financial pinch from the ongoing disruptions of the Covid-19 lockdown.

Fundraisers and street appeals have been cancelled, and organisations are expecting millions of dollars to be wiped from their books.

Jonathan Mitchell reports.

Thousands of people are facing uncertainty and worry after having their fertility treatment put on hold because it's not an essential service.

Fertility clinics shut up shop when the lockdown hit for all but the most critical of cases - usually cancer related.

RNZ health correspondent Rowan Quinn filed this report.

As the world has moved to try to contain the spread of Covid 19, global demand for fuel has dropped dramatically.

This has led to a buildup of stock and pressure on storage facilities. New Zealand is no exception.

Z Energy's chief executive Mike Bennetts speaks to Susie Ferguson.

Prison guards say they are having to confine prisoners to their cells for between 20 and 23 hours a day in most jails to manage physical distancing during the Covid-19 outbreak.

People with family members in prison are concerned about the conditions during the pandemic with one woman refused permission to send even basic clothes to her partner for the coming winter.

Corrections say no prisons are in total 23 hour lockdown although they admit some individual prisoners may be in their cells that long and lockdown hours generally have been increased.

They say the rules are designed for inmate safety and so far the jails are free of Covid-19.

Investigative reporter Guyon Espiner has the story.